Cross River Government accuses non-nationals of perpetuating quackery, stops trado-medical fair

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Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Egbe

By Akpan David, Calabar 

Cross River State Government has stopped a traditional medical trade fair and outreach at Ogoja, northern part of the state.

The fair is reportedly organized by members of National Association of Trado-Medical Practitioners (NATMP).

The state government said organisers of the trado-fair are quacks and had no approval from relevant health authorities to stage the fair.

Recently, the State Anti Quackery Taskforce was constituted by Governor Bassey Otu to check all misapplication of healthcare by whatever body or group.

The state Commissioner for Health,  Dr Henry Egbe in a statement released on Tuesday, warned all, including the vast numbers of refugees in the Ogoja axis, to keep away from the event because of dangerous health outcomes.

It has alleged that “the organizers of this dubious activity are mostly strangers and non Nigerians.

“The security and law enforcement agencies have been directed to investigate their backgrounds and activities. 

“Let it be further known that any persons or groups carrying out medical services without approval by government are a quack and should be reported to the nearest health office or law enforcement office,” the statement said.

The commissioner explained that the scope of quackery is not only limited to traditional and religious practices, including roadside sellers but that it also cuts across orthodox hospitals, clinics, maternities, mortuaries, pharmacies and patent medicines vendors among others.

He said the state government is interested to see more stakeholders involved in delivering health services, warning that it is important to ensure that healthcare is not turned into a jamboree of all comers without regulation and orderliness.

The commissioner further warned that they will not tolerate measures from whoever that do not conform to standard operating procedures. 

He called on members of the public to collaborate with government in fishing out and reporting perpetrators. 

He appealed to the media to ensure they do not promote health services including jingles that do not have the seal of the Cross River State Ministry of Health.